If I had been Cozy with Evil

Scripture:
All believers, come here and listen,
let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
he stayed with me, loyal in his love.
Psalm 66:16-20

Observation: The psalmist is telling his testimony, how the Lord saved him. He called out to the Lord, and the Lord ... actually listed to him and responded. This would not have happened if the psalmist was evil, for then God would not have been listening to him.

None of us are fully good. We all do bad things, wrong things, sinful things, and even evil things. However, there is a definitive line when someone is on the side of evil, and when someone takes up a position in their lives where they will honor, cherish, embrace, and cling to that which is known evil. From that position, the Lord will not listen. Maybe just turning the Lord in prayer moves a person away from that position enough to be heard, but clearly stated in this scripture is the idea that someone "cozy with evil" is not listened to by the Lord.

Application: I have reviewed my story before, but this element is something I should keep close to my heart. When I was desperate and challenged the Lord, he responded. This is evidence that ... I had not completely turned myself over to evil.

I did think I was in a dark place in my life back then, however the Lord saw that I was not "cozy with evil." If I had been, he would not have heard me ... but he did!! He most surely did listen, and came on the double when he heard my prayer. And he has stayed with me, loyal in his love.

Prayer: Lord, today I again praise your name, and honor you, for you are the God who listens. You have seen me over and over, and come when I needed you. I desire every day to be cozy with you, my father. Amen.